Board index ‹ Specific Bible verses, texts, and passages ‹ Matthew

[Activist]

What does the begging of Mathew chapter 10 mean?

10 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Does this mean that not everyone has the chance to be saved? Is Gods presence in my life an indication that I am of Abraham?

[jimwalton]

This was the disciples' first preaching and teaching tour without Jesus physically with them. The book of Matthew is STRONGLY about that Jesus's message is for the whole world, Gentiles and Jews, so he certainly is not here saying that not everyone has a chance—that the message of salvation is fo the Jews only. (In Matt. 2, Gentile magi come and worship; Mt. 28.19-20 ends the book with the mandate to the take the good news to the entire world.) The prohibition against going among the Gentiles and Samaritans was for this special tour only. The disciples are to first wet their feet by going among friends and fellow Jews. They'll learn the ropes.